Lamp shade



March 16, 1948. N 2,437,825

' LAMPSHADE Filed April 19, 1946 IN VEN Patented Mar. 16, 1948 iJNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP SHADE V Max Kohn, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 19, 1946, Serial No. 663,548 6 Claims. (01. 240-108) This invention relates to lamp shades and, in particular, to the provision of a new and improved lamp shade embodying means for selectively controlling the direction of light rays from a light source associated therewith.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a lamp shade comprising a plurality of joined panels at least some of which are formed by a series of operatively connected blades or vanes which may be angularly adjusted, selectively to control the amount of light passing outwardly through the panel formed thereby as Well as the direction of the aforesaid light.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a lamp shade which incorporates common control means for manually controlling the vanes or blades of a plurality of said panels concurrently.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such control means including means for controlling or adjusting the blades or vanes of the individual panels independently of the adjustment of the blades or vanes of the other panels.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description and the drawing forming a part thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, of an electrical lamp provided with a shade embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, partly broken away in the interest of clear disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of lamp shade according to this invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view in section, and partially diagrammatic, taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2 with the blades of one panel shown in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the blades of the aforesaid panel in open position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail in section, taken substantially on the plane designated by the line @-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a part of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the blades of the panels are operatively connected;

Fig. 9 is a view, in elevation, of the structure shown in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line I0I0 in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing, and with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the illustrated lamp comprises a conventional base II with suitable fixture I2 for supporting conventional lamp bulbs and having suitable known means (Fig. 3) for supporting the frame of the lamp shade.

The frame comprises a plurality of radially spaced channels I4 rigidly connected at their lower ends by the annular-frame base I5 and at their upper ends by the annular angle member I6 upon which is superposed and rigidly connected the annular channel member or retainer I! which forms a guide in the blade or vane control means as will hereinafter appear.

The frame members I4, I5, I6 and I! define a, plurality of generally upright panel spaces each of which is provided (in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2) with a series 0f operatively connected blades or vanes I8 of suitably varied length and suitably spaced to overlap in their closed position (Fig. 4). These blades or vanes are provided with a pin or trunnion I9 at each end which is suitably journalled in the adjacent flange of the channel member I4 next to that end.

Each blade or vane I8 is also provided with an eye or loop 20, the eyes or loops 20 of the blades or vanes I8 in each panel being preferably aligned.

A flexible connection comprising a cord; cable or the like 2| is provided between the vanes or blades I8 of each panel, being connected by loops to the eyes 20 thereof as shown in Fig. 8 and being connected at its lower end to yieldable tensioning means such as the spring 22 which is secured in suitable location to the rigid frame, preferably to the flange of the adjacent frame member I4 by means of a pin 23 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

If desired, inflexible connections (not shown) may be provided between the respective blades or vanes I8, and the flexible member 2| connected between one of these blades or vanes and the vane control means, one of the blades or vanes being also operatively connected directly with the spring 22, as will be readily understood.

This spring 22 always yieldingly urges the blades toward the position of Fig. 5 by reason of the connection provided between the blades or vanes because of the looping of the cord or cable 2| through the eyes or loops 2B. The means for controlling this movement, and for overcoming it to move the vanes from the position of Fig. 5 toward the position of Fig. 4 comprises a rotatably adjustable control member in the form of a flanged ring 24 supported within the channels of the above described stationary channel member or retainer [1 as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, '7, 9 and 10. Secured to this ring 24 is a depending arm or bracket 25 for each panel of adjustable blades to which bracket the upper end of the corresponding member 2| is secured as shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 10.

While the arms or brackets 25 may be fixed rigidly to the ring 24, they are shown adjustably secured thereto for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

As shown, these arms or brackets 25 each terminate upwardly in a shoe or plate 26 slidable in the flanges of the control ring 24 and through which extends a manually controllable outwardly spring urged pin 2"! engaging with one of a suitably located series of radially spaced apertures-or sockets 28 in the ring 24. If desired, the blades or vanes of one panel (ormore) may be released from the controlof the ring 24- by placing its pin 21 in its appropriate socket or recess 28 as shown in Fig. 9 suitably to adjust slack in the member 2| above the blades whereupon the blades or vanes in that panel will be maintained entirely closed by the spring 22 of that panel irrespective of the adjustment of the blades or vanes of the other panels, or wherein these blades or vanes willbe partially closed when the others are open, depending upon which of its sockets 28 receives the pin 21 of that panel.

The means for simultaneously adjusting the blades or vanes l8'in all panels (irrespective of adjustment of the individual arms 25 as described above) comprises one or more handles 24a fixed to the control ring24- at least one of which houses a detent mechanism including a radial bore 39 extending through the ring 24 and retaining a ball 3| which is backed by a compression spring 32 urging it outwardly toward the surrounding retainer or frame member H. The frame member or retainer IT is provided with a plurality of apertures 33 of suitable size and spacingior engagement with the ball 3| (Figs. 4, 5 and6) to define the various positions of adjustment of the ring 24, with respect to the retainer I7. This relative position of members 24 and I! controls the'position of the various arms 25 through which the position of the vanesv 18 of the respective Panels is controlled,. as. described-above.

As shown in Fig. 3 the movable and controllable. vanes I3 may be omitted from one or more of the panel spaces formed by the frame members i4, i5 and It and a solid panel 35 substituted therefor. In such ,cases the ring24; handles 24a, etc. control the arms 25' of each panel having movable blades or vanes l8.

Operation In setting the shade, the control ring 24 is placed in one of its predetermined positions wherein the ball 3| engages one of the apertures.

33 in the retainer I]. By manipulation of the individual panelcontrols the shoes 26 are placed in such position with respect to the control ring (wherein the pins 21. thereof engage the appropriate recesses or apertures-28) that all blades or vanes l8 of all panels are in open position as.

pend upon which aperture or recess 33 engages the ball 3| of the control ring detent mechanism.

Alternatively, when the vanes are in the position of Fig. 5, the vanes of an individual panel may be closed (completely or partially) by adjusting its arm or bracket 25 the appropriate amount. This is done by disengaging its shoe 26 for movement with respect to the control ring, then moving the shoe 26 the appropriate amount, clockwise as seen in Figs. 2; 3-and 6, and then engaging the pin 21 with the proper recess or aperture 28 to retain the blades or vanes of this panel in the appropriate position.

AJparticularly advantageous use of the control means may be made where a lamp equipped therewith is disposed between a pair of twin beds where only one of the occupants wishes to read. In that case the blades or vanes l8 of all panels are first closed (Fig. 4) and then by appropriate adjustment ofone shoe 26 on the control ring 24, the vanes of the-panel adjacent the reader are opened thedesired amountto supply the desired amount of light in the desired direction.

From the above description it will clearly appearthat I have provided a new and improved lampv shade of simple, durable construction wherein the shadearea is formed, at least partially, by panels-provided with adjustable vanes or blades of Venetian-blind type and wherein the blades, shutters or vanes of all panels may be controlled concurrently or independently to provide ultimate directional flexibility.

It is, of course, to-be understood that the above description is. merely illustrative and in nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as areincluded within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lamp shade of the class, described, a body includinga plurality of panels each formed by a set of spaced angularly adjustable vanes, means operatively connecting the vanes in each set in substantial parallelism, biasing, means yieldingly urging the vanes of each set toward one extreme position, amanually operablecontrol member comprising a rotatable ring member, adjustable connections operatively'cpnnectingsaid' control member with the vanes of -each panel and providing; therewith. common control for the adjustment thereofiand detent means for releasably securing saidrotatablering control member inanyone of a plurality of vane adjusting positions in opposition to-said biasing; means, the adjustable. connection between said control. member and each; set-oi operatively connected vanes providing forgindividualadjustment of the vanes. of each panel-independent of adjustment of saidcontrol member, said control member being disposed adjacent the upper end of the body formed by said panels and substantially coaxial with'the bodyformed by said panels.

2. In a lamp shadeof the class described, a body including a plurality of. panels each formed by a set of spacedangularly adjustable substantially flat shutters, means operatively connecting saidshutters in eachset in substantial. parallelism, biasing means. including a tension spring operatively connected with the-shutters of each set yieldingly urgingsaid shutters toward open position, a rotatable manually operable control member, an adjustable connection with-each set of shutters operatively connecting saidcontrolmember therewith and providing common control for the adjustment thereof, and detent means for releasably securing said control member in any one of a plurality of vane adjusting positions in opposition to said biasing means, the adjustable connection between said control member and each set of operatively connected shutters providing for individual adjustment of the shutters of each panel independent of adjustment of said rotatable control member, said control member being disposed adjacent the upper end of the body formed by said panels and substantially coaxial with the body formed by said panels.

3. In a lamp shade of the class described, a frame forming a plurality of panel spaces, at least one of said panel spaces having a panel therein comprising a plurality of spaced angularly adjustable shutters journalled in said frame, means including a flexible member operatively connecting the shutters of said panel in substantial parallelism for adjustment in unison, means including a tension spring connected between one shutter and said frame yieldingly urging said shutters toward one extreme position, an arm operatively connected with one of said shutters and having a slidable shoe thereon, a control ring supporting said shoe, means including recesses in said ring and pin means associated with said shoe for securing said shoe to said ring in any one of a plurality of positions, means including a retainer fixed on said frame for supporting said control ring for rotary adjustment with respect thereto, and detent means operable for releasably retainingsaid ring in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions with respect to said frame.

4. In a lamp shade of the class described, a frame forming a plurality of panel spaces, some of said panel spaces having panels therein each comprising a plurality of spaced angularly adjustable shutters journalled in said frame, means operatively connecting the shutters of each panel in substantial parallelism for-adjustment in unison, means including a tension spring connected between said frame and a shutter of each panel yieldingly urging said shutters toward open position, an arm operatively connected with one of said shutters in each panel and having a shoe thereon, a control ring supporting said shoe, means including recesses in said ring and pin means associated with said shoe for securing said shoe to said ring in any one of a plurality of positions, means including a retainer fixed on said frame for supporting said control ring for rotary adjustment with respect thereto, and detent means operable releasably to retain said ring in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions with respect to said frame.

5. In a lamp shade of the class described, a frame forming a plurality of panel spaces, said panel spaces having panels therein each comprising a set of spaced substantially flat angularly adjustable shutters journalled in said frame, means including a flexible member operatively connecting the shutters of each set in substantial parallelism for adjustment in unison, means including a tension spring connected between one end of said flexible member and said frame for yieldingly urging said shutters toward open position, an arm operatively connected with the other end of said flexible member and having a shoe thereon, a control ring supporting said shoe for sliding adjustment thereon, means including a releasable connection between said shoe and said control ring for securing said shoe to said ring in any one of a plurality of positions, means including a retainer fixed on said frame for supporting said control ring for rotary adjustment with respect thereto, and detent means operative for releasably retaining said ring in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions with respect to said frame.

6. In a lamp shade of the class described, a frame including a plurality of panel spaces, a panel in each panel space formed of a set of spaced angularly adjustable substantially flat vanes, means operatively connecting the vanes of each set in substantial parallelism, biasing means operatively connected with each set of vanes and yieldingly urging said vanes toward open position, and a manually operable control ring supported for rotation on said frame, an adjustable connection with the vanes of each panel and said control ring, said ring being movable in opposition to said biasing means to provide common control for the adjustment of the vanes of all panels, and detent means for releasably securing said control member in any one of a plurality of vane adjusting positions in opposition to said biasing means, the adjustable connection between said control member and each set of operatively connected vanes providing for variation in the adjustment of the vanes of each panel provided by said control ring, said control ring being' disposed adjacent the upper ends of said panels and being coaxial with said frame and rotatable with respect thereto.

MAX KOHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

